By Sgt. Tony Knouf

207th Public Affairs Detachment

The U.S. Army Reserve’s 208th Digital Liaison Detachment welcomed a new commanding officer March 8, 2014, at Fort Carson.

Small liaison teams often deploy to provide coordination and communication between different battlefield elements. Their skills help synchronize and unify strategies with different echelons of command or between the Army and foreign militaries, nongovernmental organizations and private voluntary organizations.

The subject of building relationships provided the cornerstone of outgoing commander Lt. Col. Roy N. Stanton’s parting message to his troops.

“The relationships you have with other Soldiers are the fabric that will hold the Army together as an organization,” Stanton said.

The new detachment commander, Col. Michael J. Keller, spoke of the significance of the unit’s mission. “To ensure communication, mutual understanding of purpose and action is an important role.”

Despite planning, great facilities and the application of management theories, “missions succeed or fail because of the people involved,” said Keller.

In addition to spearheading domestic Defense Support of Civil Authorities, the unit returned from Afghanistan in 2013 from supporting the Joint Border Coordination Center, Spin Boldak, Kandahar province. The year prior it was in South Korea to support Ulchi Freedom Guardian.